Cricket West Indies, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), the National Sports Commission, the Allied Arts Unit of the Ministry of Education and the Child Care and Protection Agency have come together to see the return of Kiddy Cricket.
At a simple launch Thursday at the former boardroom of the GCB on Regent Street, GCB’s Territorial Development Officer (TDO), Colin Stuart said that the knockout competition is expected to begin October 15 where 215 teams comprising eight boys and four girls teams from the various districts competing.
In addition to the competition, the GCB has presented to the Ministry of Education, 105 child care manuals as well as 400 supplemental academic manuals to enable teachers to be equipped with tested information which can be used to help safeguard the well-being and welfare of children.
The teaching manuals have been developed through a collaborative effort by UNICEF, the Caribbean Examination Council and CWI. Director at CWI and Treasurer of the GCB, Anand Kalladeen, said: “The programme seeks to build on past efforts geared at stimulating interest in the game among primary school students while simultaneously helping them to develop their motor skills, flexibility, agility and cardiovascular fitness.”
Also, 20 kiddy kits were donated to the body.
“The aim is to help them to use the kiddy cricket kits to deliver the tactical aspect of delivering the CXC syllabus in gearing teachers to make that delivery,” said Stuart. TDO of the National Sports Commission, Seon Erskine, said that he was impressed by the manual.
“This manual is so key and is touching every aspect of the child’s curriculum… These young ones are on the right path in terms of this sports and these type of grassroots programme is integral for the longevity of the sport and urged others to come on board and follow,” said Erskine.
Administrator of the Allied Arts Unit, Lorraine Barker-King, spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Education and endorsed the teaching manuals for cricket, stating: “It is a good tool and we see the integration, that is, we have the core subjects Mathematics, Science, English and Social Studies done through the medium of cricket so children can see the whole progression.”
She pledged continued collaboration with the GCB in an effort to bring more to children into sports with a vision of bringing fitness to the younger generation.
Orette Francios, Senior Probation and Social Service Officer of the Child Care and Protection Agency, praised the effort to bring cricket in schools
In a manner that is free from abuse.
According to Francois, the initiative is timely as the issue of child abuse is being commemorated with the main purpose being heightened awareness of child abuse and neglect by instilling that the core principles of Child Protection is everyone’s business.
“The GCB has made continuous strides in making coaches who interact with children complete training in child protection before being certified as coaches,” Francios stated while applauding the board for its efforts and urging other sporting disciplines to use a similar method.
